Microarray Research Laboratory

The Microarray Research Laboratory is a new facility founded in 2003 by the Office of Pesticide Program's (OPP) to conduct groundbreaking research in the genotoxicity of antimicrobials.

Location: EPA's Environmental Science Center at Fort Meade, Maryland

The Microarray Research Laboratory employs DNA microarray or Gene-chips ®, a newly-developing technology and method, to identify toxicogenotoxic effects of various disinfectants on bacterial cell response. By using microarrays, the lab produces global gene expression profiles in pathogenic bacteria following exposure to antimicrobial agents. The global gene profiles are then analyzed to help us understand the mechanisms involved in toxicity and resistance. More specifically, the aims of the laboratory are to:

Integrate the recent advances in the field of genomics into current microbiological techniques for testing the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents
Analyze genome-wide changes in pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in response to exposure to antimicrobials and explore how these responses manifest themselves via variations in structural, physiological and metabolic properties
Compare responding genes to those of other bacteria and determine signature genes correlated to a mechanism of action and lethality
Investigate cell-to-cell signaling among bacterial pathogens when their pathogenicity is determined by the secretion and perception of signal molecules

OPP anticipates that this exciting research will provide useful data for healthcare facilities, patients and scientists as well as a training ground for students interested in genomics research.

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